The peaceful atmosphere in the Anatist capital starkly contrasted with the horrors unfolding at the border. Terist's army marched forward, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in their wake. The Lizardwars they encountered were highly aggressive, their acts becoming crueller each hour.

As spring arrived, the kingdom's flora burst to life with vibrant greenery and budding flowers, yet Terist had little interest in admiring the natural beauty. He was too consumed by his desires, too driven by his twisted nature to take notice.

Terist's attention was attracted to a woman rushing down the street as his troops fell on another unfortunate small town. He grabbed her without hesitation and dragged her back to his headquarters, where he held her down on the ground.

The woman struggled beneath Terist's grasp, her heart pounding with fear and desperation. "Please, let me go," she pleaded, her voice shaking. "I haven't done anything to you."

Terist chuckled darkly, his eyes gleaming with a cruel light. "Oh, but you have," he replied, his grip tightening on her. "You exist."

The depravity of the Lizardwar became obvious to the lady, and her people's eyes expanded in terror. She realized she was doomed, that she was at the mercy of a bloodthirsty monster.

The woman's struggles were futile against Terist's unyielding grip. Though she tried to scratch and claw at him, her nails failed to leave so much as a mark on his skin. Despite her physical strength, not even the most daring of the base's men or women ventured to challenge him. They were well aware of the repercussions of resisting him. Terist's minions stood poised with their guns, preparing to put an end to any semblance of resistance.

Terist revelled in the power he held over others, savouring the fear and terror he inspired in those around him. As he pinned the woman down, he took pleasure in the sounds of her gasping and whimpering, enjoying the fun of exerting his will over another human being.

But his pleasure was interrupted by the sound of a vibrating radio in his pocket. With a sense of defiance, he withdrew the device and answered the call. As he listened to the voice on the other end, he swung his fist into the woman's mouth to silence her.

"Colonel Terist!" the voice called out urgently. "It's me, Lord Menovilest!"

Terist's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his superior's voice. The mere mention was enough to send shivers down his spine.

"Yes, lord," he stammered, struggling to keep his voice steady. "I mean, general. What are your orders?"

The voice on the other end was terse and to the point. "How many RF-M10s have you been given?"

He quickly turned around, counting the war vehicles in his possession. "General, I only have three of them," he replied. "Is there any problem with that?"

Menovilest's response was brusque. "Nothing, I'm just afraid of spending too much on the Empire's budget, so I'll just ask just to be sure. Continue the quest."

With that, the general disconnected, leaving Terist to let out a sigh of relief. He put the radio back in his pocket and turned back to the woman he had pinned to the ground.

"I like strong women like you!" he growled, his eyes gleaming with a perverse hunger.

"Soldiers, fuck her!"

Without a moment's hesitation, the soldiers moved in, their hands groping and grasping at the helpless woman's body. She let out a piercing scream, but it was quickly drowned out by the sounds of their lewd laughter and the sickening squelch of flesh against flesh.

Terist watched with twisted satisfaction, taking pleasure in the suffering of another human being. For him, the cries of the innocent were nothing more than the sweet symphony of power and control. And he would do whatever it takes to ensure that his reign of terror continued unabated.

"How long will she last? Five minutes?"

"Haha, and I think she can last for twenty minutes!"

Terist's laughter echoed through the village, a sickening sound that filled the air with malice and cruelty. His subordinates, eager to please their leader, continued their depraved act without hesitation, using the poor woman beneath them as a mere object for their satisfaction.

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Despite the troops' joy and enthusiasm, the villagers surrounding them stayed silent, their eyes averted in shame and dread. They understood that speaking out against the Replord's troops would have serious repercussions, so they chose to bear the atrocities in silence.

For these villagers, a peaceful life was all they desired - a life free from the tyranny and oppression of the Empire. They did not care for wars or power struggles, and they certainly couldn't condone the harassment and abuse of innocent women.

And yet, here they were, forced to witness such a heinous act. Each of them felt a sense of shame and guilt for not speaking up, and for not doing something to help the poor victim. But the fear of the Empire's wrath kept them rooted in place, unable to move or act.

While the Lizardwars continued their vile act, the woman's cries grew weaker and weaker. Terist and his men laughed and joked amongst themselves, completely indifferent to the suffering they had inflicted upon the helpless woman.

"Stop!"

A brave young man dared to speak up. The deputy instead of a warning, Terist pulled out a pistol and landed three bullets into the boy's chest, leaving him to fall on the spot. The colonel waved his hand to signal that he had seen enough.

The corpse of the young man sprawled on the ground, his blood staining the soil beneath him. Terist didn't even give the boy's body a second look, his thoughts already on the previous target. And the girl was forgotten, a toy to be abandoned once the troops had finished with her.

The colonel approached their toy, put his finger in front of the girl's nostril, and realized that he was a bit over the top.

She stopped breathing. He turned to look at the young man's body, which was bleeding in a pool over there, and gave the soldiers the next instructions:

"Butcher them."

The scene was grotesque, with limbs scattered across the ground and blood staining the earth. Yet, Terist seemed to revel in the chaos, his eyes glinting with a twisted pleasure.

As he took another bite of the flesh, his subordinates followed suit, joining in the gruesome feast. The once peaceful village was now a site of carnage and terror, a testament to the Replords' insatiable hunger for power and control.

The villagers could only watch in horror as their neighbours’ remains were consumed before their very eyes. The stench of death and decay hung heavily in the air, mingling with the metallic tang of blood. They were powerless to stop the Replords, who held all the cards in this cruel game of domination.

Terist grinned wickedly, pleased with the display of his authority. The villagers were nothing more than pawns in his game, to be used and discarded at his whim. He raised his voice, addressing his followers.

"Let this be a warning to all those who dare to defy us. We will not hesitate to use force to maintain our hold over these lands. Any who resist will meet the same fate as these fools."

The subordinates cheered, echoing their leader's sentiment. The Replords had made their point clear - they were in control, and none could challenge their authority.

Suddenly a timid soldier approached the colonel while he was eating and drinking, whispering in his ear:

"Sir, we have a problem."

Although this guy insolently interrupted his fun, because he was superior, he still listened:

"What problem?"

"There is an army with both the Royal Legion and the Soul Warriors coming for us."

Terist's smirk slowly faded, replaced with a contemplative look. He knew that the Royal Legions and Soul Warriors were not to be underestimated, but he couldn't let his men see their commander’s fear. After all, his reputation as a ruthless Lizardwar was at stake.

He stood up, dusting off his hands and putting on his hat. "Prepare the troops. We'll give them a warm welcome," he barked, his voice echoing across the desolate village.

Terist wondered as the troops rushed to get into formation. He was well aware that the enemy force would not be taken lightly, but his ego and arrogance would not allow him to back down.

He walked to the edge of the village, looking out at the barren landscape. In the distance, he could see the dust clouds rising from the approaching army.

"It's only two hundred," he muttered to himself, trying to convince himself that he was not afraid. "We can handle them."

Again, a soldier hurried over, whispering in Terist's ear:

"Colonel, the leader of that army is a veteran general of the Ford Anatist Kingdom and a third-ranked student at Uchire Academy."

Though, Terist would panic but no. Terist's laughter echoed through the air, as he tried to convince himself and his men that they were invincible. But deep down, he knew the threat that was approaching.

He addressed his subordinates, his voice booming with confidence, "We are the Empire's army, the most powerful force in this world! We have crushed countless armies before us, and we will do the same to these arrogant fools! We will fight with everything we have and emerge victorious!"

The soldiers cheered in response, their loyalty to the Empire overriding any doubts they may have had about their chances in battle. Terist continued to inspire them with his words, bolstering their confidence in their abilities.

"Prepare your weapons, ready your minds, and let's show them the true strength of the Empire!" Terist declared, his voice ringing out across the encampment. The soldiers nodded in agreement, their resolve hardened by their commander's words.

The battle was about to start.